“我的渡口” or “My Ferry” struck me as a rather slow and silent movie, conversations between country people being of the minimalist kind with many things left unsaid. The main reason to watch – apart from the scenic beauty of the Hubei river landscape – is probably to get a taste of traditional, rural China which is so completely different from modern Chinese society.
- Year: 2013
- Duration: 92 minutes
- Subtitles: Chinese only
- Difficulty: Intermediate / upper intermediate
“我的渡口” (Wǒ de dùkǒu) was directed by Wang Fangfang and is set against the backdrop of China’s rapidly changing societal landscape.
Story line
The story about a father and son can be outlined in a few sentences. Laotian has been working as a ferryman on a small rowing boat for all his life. His wife has died and recently his health has been declining, but he doesn’t want to give up his trade. His only son, Xiaotian, who has been jobbing downtown, now has returned to spend his holidays with his father. Xiaotian, who has been struggling as a migrant worker to survive in the big city, loves his father, but doesn’t have a high opinion of his trade and his stubborn ways. His father never accepts any money, the villagers leave some cabbages or potatoes instead. Xiaotian’s feelings change however, when he starts rowing the ferry himself in order to support his old man.
Tradition and modernity
Basically, it’s a story about father and son and the conflict between the old and the new. Can a fourth generation take over the small ferry business? How to react to the changing circumstances? How to respect tradition and still survive without becoming a stick in the mud?
Filial piety
From a cultural perspective, “My Ferry” is a striking display of “filial piety”. Xiaotian may disagree with his father’s plain view of the world, but he would never openly disrespect him and make him loose face in front of others. It’s really compelling to watch these traditional Chinese family relations where feelings for each other are usually expressed in an indirect way. In other words, no hugging, no “I love you, dad”, no “goodbye, son, I’ll miss you” and so on.
The ferryman
When we look deeper, we also find the archetypal figure of the ferryman who appears in many cultures. He typically is a solitary and silent figure, not very well liked by the people and transcendent in the sense that he isn’t really part of this world, but forever in between. Laotian, still very concerned with the practical world and his local community, could be seen as a Chinese manifestation of this archetypal figure. There’s wisdom in his simplicity.
Important vocabulary
- 爹 – (diē) – Father, dad
- 娘 – (niáng) – Mother, mam
- 划船 – (huáchuán) – To row a boat
- 渡口 (dùkǒu) – Ferry crossing, dock
- 渡船 (dùchuán) – Ferry boat
- 河流 (héliú) – River
- 摆渡 (bǎidù) – Ferrying people across
- 旅程 (lǚchéng) – Journey
- 人生 (rénshēng) – Life
- 故乡 (gùxiāng) – Hometown
- 离别 (líbié) – Departure, separation
- 过客 (guòkè) – Passing traveler
- 乡愁 (xiāngchóu) – Nostalgia, homesickness
- 命运 (mìngyùn) – Fate, destiny
- 转变 (zhuǎnbiàn) – Transformation, change
- 希望 (xīwàng) – Hope
- 内心 (nèixīn) – Inner thoughts, feelings
- 告别 (gàobié) – Farewell
Follow the link to watch the movie.
